DUBAI, 26 July 2007 — The Traffic and Roads Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority closed the Floating Bridge yesterday morning, as part of the emergency team plan to conduct some technical experiments during the peak hours so as to ensure that the emergency system works effectively using the smart traffic systems.
Maithaa Bin Aday, CEO of Traffic and Roads at the RTA, said that the traffic on the Floating Bridge had been suspended for a period not exceeding two hours, on purpose of conducting some technical tests during summertime due to the low traffic movement presently, after ten days of its inauguration.
It is noteworthy that the Floating Bridge witnessed an active traffic movement once operated in the middle of this month as one of alternative ways for the Al-Garhoud Bridge and has helped to reduce the traffic congestion on Al-Maktoum Bridge and other roads.
Bin Aday explained that the Floating Bridge is still within the period of pilot tests for the electric devices of the bridge control system, where its operation is exposed to many of these devices and other equipment that secure many factors, including quality, safety and smooth traffic, through the use of best methods internationally utilized in the designs of floating bridges, as well as adopting the most advanced techniques in this field to guarantee the vision of RTA in accomplishing Safe and Smooth Transport for all.
She added that the emergency team of RTA, in coordination with the consultant and contractor, had carried out a test closure for the bridge as part of the contingency action, which is an integral part of the comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of drivers and the smoothness of traffic on the bridge.
She added that the Floating Bridge is currently undergoing a thorough study of the traffic on it through a working team from the RTA, in addition to the consultant and contractor, in order to achieve the best results and the desired objectives of its establishment.
Bin Aday said the RTA is working to provide the best services to the public and motorists using the Floating Bridge and is keen and committed to ensure the safety of everyone and the traffic throughout Dubai, and further stresses that there is no problem or malfunction on the bridge, and what the tests proved is the traffic movement had been more streamlined once it reopened.
